​FAQ's

Does Acupuncture hurt?

​Most of the time patients don't feel a thing. Acupuncture needles are very fine and when the needle is inserted it can sometimes be described as a tingling sensation or a dull ache.

How does Acupuncture work?

There is a powerful energy flowing in your body. It circulates everywhere and plays an important part in the functioning of all your bodily processes, including your major organs. The Chinese have known about this force for thousands of years and call it ‘Qi’ (pronounced ‘chee’). It is a force similar to electrical or magnetic energy. This energy flows in channels that travel up and down your arms and legs and enter your abdomen, where they connect with all your major organs.

What can Acupuncture treat?

Because Acupuncture is a holistic therapy it can treat a broad range of different conditions that manifest physically, mentally and spiritually and may be acute or chronic. The range of conditions that Acupuncture treats falls into six broad categories:

Musculoskeletal aches or pains
Mental and spiritual conditions
Physical problems
Acute infections and viral conditions
Severe long-term chronic illness
Preventative treatment
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The British Acupuncture Council provides fact sheets with accurate and unbiased general information for a variety of conditions. The most up to date are listed below.

A
Acne 
Allergic rhinnitis
Anxiety
Arrhythmias and Heart Failure
Asthma

B
Back pain
Bell’s palsy

C
Cancer care
​Carpal tunnel syndrome
Childbirth
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic pain
Colds and flu
COPD
Coronary heart disease
Cystitis

D
Dementia
Dentistry
Depression
Diabetes (Type-2)
Dysmenorrhoea

E
Eczema and Psoriasis
Endometriosis

F
Facial pain
Female fertility
Female fertility & IVF
Fibromyalgia
Frozen shoulder

G
Gastrointestinal tract disorders
Gout

H
Headache
HIV infection
Hypertension

I
Infertility
Insomnia
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

K
Kidney stones

M
Male infertility
Menopausal symptoms
Migraines
Multiple sclerosis

N
Nausea and vomiting
Neck pain
Neuropathic pain

O
Obesity
Obstetrics
Osteoarthritis

P
Palliative care
Parkinson’s disease
PCOS
Post-operative pain
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Premenstrual syndrome
Puerperium

R
Raynaud’s
Rheumatoid arthritis

S
Sciatica
Shingles
Sinusitis
Sports Injuries
Stress
Stroke
Substance misuse

T
Tennis elbow
Thyroid disease
Tinnitus
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U
Urinary incontinence

V
Vertigo

Can Acupuncture be used as a preventative treatment?

Many people also choose to have acupuncture as a preventive treatment, or because they feel unwell in themselves but do not yet have an illness that Western medicine would be able to detect.
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Indeed, after receiving acupuncture treatment, people often say that they feel better within themselves, as well as having their symptoms eased or cleared up completely. This is largely because Chinese Medicine is a holistic form of healing, which aims to remove the underlying causes of your health problem, rather than just suppressing the symptoms.
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What will happen on my first visit?

Your first consultation will be longer than subsequent sessions. Your general state of health, will be assessed in order to identify the underlying pattern of disharmony and give you the most effective treatment.

You will be asked about your current symptoms and what treatment you have received so far, as well as your medical history, your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional state. To discover how the energies are flowing in your body, the pulses on both wrists will be felt and quality, rhythm and strength will be noted. 

The structure, colour and coating of your tongue also gives a good guide to your physical health. Once enough information has been gathered to determine the likely causes of your problems, the most appropriate treatment can be selected.

Loose, comfortable clothing should be worn, and you should be aware that access to points on your torso as well as on your arms and legs, may be needed.

Is it safe?

Acupuncture has a very sound track record. The needles are single-use, sterile and disposable. Responses to treatment can sometimes include tiredness and mild dizziness however these are quite rare.

Can I claim for Acupuncture treatment on my private health insurance?

​Some private health care schemes allow you to claim for acupuncture treatment given by a British Acupuncture Council member.  For some conditions (e.g. low back pain) you may be able to ask your GP to refer you for acupuncture.  

Please check directly with your insurance provider to confirm up-to-date policy details.

For further information on Acupuncture, please got to the British Acupuncture Council website.